Esmeralda was the first to wake up the following morning after another uncomfortable dream about Frollo. 'Words cannot describe how much I despise that man.' She put her boots back on and grabbed her sword. It wasn't exactly early. It was almost nine but everyone else was still asleep. That is until a moderate groan startled her.
Sadie rose her head and looked over. "Morning." "Morning Sadie. How'd you sleep?" The girl stood up and picked up her gun while slipping on her shoes. "Pretty well thanks. Better than the night before." They both looked to the left and right of them and smiled. "I suppose it's going to be a while until we leave." "Yep. Guess so."
Two minutes later, the boys started to wake up. Clopin looked over and tilted his head once he saw Esmeralda. "E..Esmeralda? Is that you?" Quasi sat up and looked at her the same way. She hummed. "Yes it's me. Gypsy turned noble warrior." She spun in a circle. "I like it." The hunchback smiled. "Me too. What time do you guys want to head out?"
Sadie stretched and let out a small yawn. "Whenever you guys are set." He smiled. "Okay then. But where are we going to go?" Clopin scratched his head. "Anywhere else but here." Esmeralda winked. "Come on. Before he emerges." The gypsies gathered their bags.
Sadie opened the door and was the last one outside. "Show us the way Sadie. I hereby claim you the leader of the pack." The gypsy king softly announced. The girl smiled and continued forward. "Wait a sec." She picked up another sword from the ground and handed her weapon to Quasimodo. "We all need protection. It's low on ammo so aim wisely okay?" He smiled. "Alright. Thanks." "No problem."
The four set out on their journey with the girls beside each other. "Wherever the road takes us?" "Yep." Sadie smiled. Clopin ran up to them. "What about our supplies?" She came to a dead halt. "Oh! I completely forgot. Hm. Can you run back and just grab the umbrellas? Something tells me the weather isn't going to be so kind to us today. Oh. The spare ammunition as well." "At your service." He saluted and walked back with Quasimodo.
"And what a coincidental prediction." Esmeralda groaned as she turned around. Sadie quickly stood in front of her.
"A pleasant morning to you gypsies." "It was far beyond pleasant until you showed up." The gypsy woman folded her arms. Sadie then smirked as she noticed he was wearing the same robe she had 'infected'.
Frollo looked down at her weapon then into her eyes. "As to where are you off to?" "I question your authority and yet you question my capability?" He sharply sighed and went to lay a hand on top her head. She backed up, quickly blinking. "What?"
"How dare you twist my mind into thinking you are an angel sent to me."
Esmeralda rolled her eyes. 'Not again.'
"What on earth are you talking about? All I said yesterday was that I did you a favor by.." Her voice faded as the judge ran two slender fingers through a few strands of her hair. She shivered and closed her eyes. "In time, patterns repeat themselves."
Esmeralda clenched her teeth and pulled Sadie by the arm. "Will you stop already? The only pattern you repeat is lust." They quickly walked down the road. Quasimodo and Clopin hurried back with the supplies when the judge followed them with a scowl, pulling Sadie back against his waist.
"You captivate me just as that gypsy witch has." She shut her eyes, paralyzed as those five threating words clouded her thoughts. 'Choose me or the fire.'
Quasimodo clenched his teeth and fired a single bullet two inches away from his former master's neck. Sadie jumped as the gun shot was heard. "Don't ever touch her again Frollo." "Quasimodo!" He scolded then relaxed. 'There is always room.' "She has simply possessed you as well." "She has not! Sadie is my friend!" "Why are you following us anyway?" Clopin scowled.
Sadie sighed and pushed away his left hand as it held her neck, only to have it hold her again. Frollo looked down at her thin brown hair and sniffed it. Traumatized from her own memories, Esmeralda heavily sighed with a groan and pushed him away from her. "Leave her alone! I mean it Claude."
Clopin hugged the timid girl at his side. She hid her face against his top, letting out a short huff. Quasimodo placed a hand at her back.
The judge smirked as he looked deeply into her eyes. "You must have forgotten your actions towards me at the festival. Unfortunately I have decided to let you live. Therefore.." "I don't have time for this!" She impatiently sighed. "Are you coming with us or not?" "Such a humble question gypsy. Why yes. It would be quite a pleasure."
The gypsy king and hunchback suspiciously looked at him. "Keep your eyes open." Clopin whispered to Quasi. He quickly nodded and began to walk with Sadie down the sidewalk.
Sadie's face fell as Frollo and Esmeralda resumed their argument and walked down the road by herself. 'I knew this was a bad idea. Look at the chaos you caused again.' The cold air blew through her hair. 'Never saw myself as pretty anyway. Remember what mom said. "Once you finally move out of home, then you'll make me proud for once." Maybe anyway.'
"Sadie! Wait up!" The rest of her group, and Frollo who simply walked, ran to catch up with her. "You can't just run off like that." Clopin added but frowned once he looked into her eyes. "You alright?" Esmeralda asked warmly.
The girl's emotionless face turned into a scowl as she looked forward at five zombies. "Sadie don't!" Quasi gasped, watching her run towards them. "Patience Quasimodo. A lesson needs to be learned here." The judge silenced him with a flat hand. The hunchback clenched his teeth.
The girl viciously beheaded each one with her sword then continued walking alone, deeply breathing in and out with small tears in her eyes.
The gypsy king went to walk up to her but suddenly stopped, feeling Quasi's hand on his shoulder. "Let's leave her alone. She looks depressed and looks like she doesn't want to talk." "Well she did say she often travels best by herself. Let's not get involved just yet." Both of the boys nodded and continued to walk ten feet behind her.
Esmeralda impatiently squinted her eyes as Frollo strolled beside her. "I hope you're happy." She spat. "Indeed I am. Why look." He gestured a hand in the distance towards Sadie. "She may seem lonely, but with the proper treatment, I shall resolve just that. A moment, if you will." Frollo held up a single finger and followed the girl. "Claude!" She shouted in a whisper but it was no use.
Quasimodo stopped him but the judge simply walked around him while setting a hand on the hunchback's head.
"It's no use! Why did you invite him to go with us?!" Clopin looked at her. "Like what I said would matter! He won't listen! You clearly remember this same ordeal. Don't you?" Quasimodo scratched his head in confusion. "My head hurts. Does anyone have a plan?"
Frollo slowly walked behind Sadie, who quickly heard his footsteps. She then ran down the street hoping that he wouldn't follow. 'Why can't I run longer? Man I'm out of shape.' She stopped after thirty seconds and placed a hand on her chest. Her heart beat faster and Sadie sighed. 'If only my lungs were stronger.'
"Misled?" Frollo halted five feet behind her. Sadie clenched her fists and went to stab him. Esmeralda quickly ran over and restrained her arms, hearing the drop off her weapon on the ground. "It's alright Sadie. Calm down." Her soft tone was enough for the girl to glare at Frollo then close her eyes.
"Can you..leave me alone? Please?" Sadie calmly breathed and asked her. The girl's glaring eyes opened once more at him. Esmeralda quickly blinked and let her go. Sadie walked away with small tears in her eyes.
"You see what you do?!" Clopin scowled and turned to face the judge. "Yes. I do. In fact.." "You're damaging her self esteem Claude! Stop it!" Esmeralda blinked. "I am not damaging her, gypsy. She should be grateful that I let her live." Frollo folded his arms.
"Let her live?" Clopin glanced over his shoulder and narrowed his eyes. "You..tried to kill her yesterday?! Threatening her to become yours?" "Wonderful to know that we are on the same page." The judge sighed and walked past them.
Esmeralda clenched her teeth and groaned. "I can't take him one more second Clopin! Not again." She held his shoulders. He wiped her eyes with his thumb. "I have an idea. But for now, let's go find Sadie."
Sadie looked back in relief to find nobody following her. "Good." She calmly sighed and sat on the edge of a well, blankly staring into the water. 'Now let's see. It looks like it will be daylight for seven more hours. Perhaps a little longer. Since we are traveling again solo, if I hurry I could find my own shelter. My personal space and no one else's.' Her eyes closed as a gust of wind blew through her hair.
Clopin squinted his eyes as he noticed a still figure ahead of him. "Esmeralda! I think I found her!" He whispered. "You did? Oh thank goodness!" Quasimodo sighed. "Indeed Quasimodo." Frollo's voice startled all three of them. "Why are you still following us? Claude?" The hunchback boldly added his name. "Oh my dear Quasimodo." He patted his former stepson's head. Quasimodo smacked his hand away and slowly walked up to the girl. "Serves you right." Esmeralda smirked with folded arms.
"Yes. For I am always correct aren't I?" Frollo narrowed his eyes at her. "That heathen you fools claim as a friend lacks nothing more than the moral concepts of gratitude and forgiveness. I humbly offered shelter to her in exchange for sparing her deluded little mind. And yet she refused. Now if you will excuse me." The judge walked down the road with a satisfied look in his eyes.
Sadie remained quiet as the wind continued to blow. "Because I'm only a crack in this castle of glass." The girl sang in a whisper. She closed her eyes and leaned her head to the side on one of the stone pillars. 'It's so quiet.' A deep sigh left her mouth.
Clopin groaned. "Esmeralda. Just kill him already! He attempted kill you and then tried to kill Sandra!" "Key word being attempted. Besides, I have a plan. We abandon him. If he believes he is righteous enough to survive without us, then so be it." She blinked. "Uh..You mean.." "No Quasi. I didn't mean it like to be turned into one of those things. I meant in terms of food, water, etcetera." "Oh okay. That was a pretty disturbing thought. Then again everything about Frollo is." "Couldn't agree more Quasi." Clopin added with a small laugh.
Frollo tilted his head as he sat on the edge of the well beside her. Sadie knew it was him by the brief breeze of his robe hitting her shoulder. "Please go away." She softly sniffled. "I'm not worth your company." He rolled his eyes. "I hadn't stated that now have I?" "IT WAS WHAT YOU WERE IMPLYING!" Sadie shouted and sprinted down the walkway.
He groaned and chased after her. "Sandra?" "Now what do you want!? Do you want me dead? Here." She tossed her sword to his feet. "Fine." She held out her arms with tears in her eyes. "All I ask for is your cooperation. Heathen. If that is too difficult of a task." He handed her weapon back. "Why? You despise every inch of my existence. I'm avoiding you in an effort to resolve that." Her voice was shaky and her eyes were stained with tears. "Clearly I do not or else I wouldn't be chasing.." "Lusting." The girl bitterly corrected. "..after you."
Frollo's eyes met hers. She quickly looked down. He clenched his teeth then calmly sighed. "Look at me. Please." "Yes sir?" Sadie responded as she did so. "I offered you a deal and you are not abiding by it." The judge wiped her eyes with his thumbs. "What do you mean?" 'She's too occupied in thoughts to think straight.' "I asked you one simply question just yesterday. To reflect upon your sins. By letting you live, that also meant to be in my arms for now until the day I die." "What?" She shivered and broke down in tears again. "No. No! Please! Anything but this Frollo!" He went to clear her eyes again. "Don't ever touch me again you monster!" Sadie hiccupped. "You have no reason to fear me Sadie. Captivate me as you will, but I am willing to convert with you guiltless."
She fluttered her eyes. "No. I can't. I can't forgive you. You have put me through enough since the day you first placed your filthy hands on me." The girl gulped, noticing Frollo even more enraged. 'Oh no.' He pulled her into an old shop building and roughly slapped her across the face, leaving a trace of his handprint. Sadie yelped. "I advise that you change your mind." "Or what?" She whispered and wielded her sword to his heart. "Kill me at your will and it shall be known that you will die in hell." "I'd rather be there than here. And for the record, it's not polite for a man to lay hands on a woman. Oh wait.." The tip was a near five centimeters away from his chest.
"L..Listen to me Sadie. I.." Frollo stammered as he backed up and fell to the floor. "Why should I? You wished to die with virtue hadn't you?" She smirked. "And indeed I will." He whipped out a dagger from his robe and threw it at the wall in a fit of anger, watching as it sharply cut Sadie's waist. "Agh!" She fell to her knees and held her right side with tightened eyes and clenched teeth. "Sadie!" Frollo ran over and knelt down in front of her.
"It's..not bad. I'm..okay." She panted. "I didn't mean to hurt you." "Yes..you did! Agh!" She groaned as she tried to stand up but couldn't. "I swear on my future grave I had not." He helped her up and walked her over to a dusty counter. "What did I say about touching me?" Sadie hissed. Frollo rolled his eyes. "Very well. Now lay down." "No. I know what you're thinking and I won't fall for it." She squinted her eyes as her wound stung again. "It will get infected. Now lay down while I try to find a bandage." Tired of arguing, the girl took a cloth and wiped off the counter before laying down with a soft wince.
Sadie watched as his back turned and quietly got off of the counter, grabbing a bandage she found and walked out the door into another building. She carefully walked up to the second floor and to the bathroom. The girl wet a cloth and headed to a bedroom, locking the door behind her. "Now stay quiet. You don't want him to find you. He hurt me enough already. Physically mostly." Her eyes glanced at her arm then waist and lay on a bed, gently lifting her shirt below her ribcage. 'Okay. Don't shout. Don't shout..' She held her breath to avoid making any noise as the cloth lightly made contact with her skin. "Ow! Damn." She looked down and immediately noticed the corner of the cloth had turned from white to a dark red.
After it was cleaned, the bandage was applied and she sighed. "Why am I still keeping him alive? Duh. I gave Quasimodo my gun. I forgot. I'm no where near strong enough to fight him face to face." Sadie glanced over to a walk in closet and took off the bandage on her arm. She went over to it but stopped as she notice Frollo in the streets below her.
"Yes." Her eyes narrowed as she grabbed her sword, opening a window. "Good. Closer. Closer. Good. Prepare to met your fate minister." She rose her weapon then let it fall. 'Just do it!' Sadie forced herself to throw it then ducked. Hearing a loud groan, she smiled. "An eye for an eye." The girl grabbed a light blue tank top from the closet and carefully changed. "It's not the most flattering but whatever."
Sadie unlocked the door and exited the building to find her fallen enemy on the ground holding his right shoulder. "Oh the glorious concept of karma." She smiled. "You disgusting vermin! How dare you defy me!" He went to stand up. "That's all very well. Adios!" She picked up her sword and saluted. "You are not leaving my sight!" "Are..Are you..asking for my protection?" She sarcastically inhaled. "Why your honor, I'm..disgusted." Her sarcasm dropped at the last word and she passed by him. He deathly stared at her then sighed. "Fine. Leave me to die." "Oh grow up. Take responsibility for your actions." He went after her.
She covered her mouth as he stopped to catch his breath. Sadie shook her head and looked at him. "What?" Frollo snapped. She ran back into the shop and took the bandage and cloth. "Here." "Oh no. I simply cannot help myself." He smirked. She groaned. "Fine. If you wish for my plagued hands to touch you." He sat down on a chair in an old home. The girl followed and untied the back of his robe and lifted the sleeve of his white dress shirt. "I'm sorry." She whispered and tended to his wound. "Are you?"
Sadie was quiet for a minute. "It's just an apology. For hurting you. If you were wise, you would do the same." She applied the bandage and fixed his robe. "You are the one to apologize. Punishing you was God's will. I am to execute just that." She looked to him with tears starting to form in her eyes. "Yes. The truth hurts doesn't it?" Sadie froze in place, letting her tears fall down her face. Frollo blinked and left her. Her body slumped to the ground. 'I just want to leave this world.'